The Bledington Music Festival
The Bledington Music Festival is an annual music event that takes place over three summer evenings in the beautiful Cotswolds. We play host to top-class performers from all over the world.
Due to the COVID-19 situation, we have taken the sad decision to cancel the 2021 event.
Each summer, an increasing number of music lovers make their way to St Leonard’s Church, Bledington, a little village in the heart of the Cotswolds just 10 minutes from Stow-On-the-Wold and 40 minutes from Oxford. There are so many lovely places nearby, it’s worth staying a few days for a relaxing mini-break.
We are also big supporters of Music in Education, you can find out more about how the musicians take the time to interact and introduce and enrich the musicality in students of Bledington School.
News and Updates
Festival 2021 will not be taking place
It is with heavy hearts that the Festival Committee has decided they have no option but to postpone the Festival for another year. The need for social distancing is likely to stay with us for some while and it would not be economical to reduce the possible audience to the extent that this would be possible. The musicians have all been consulted and have agreed that this is the only thing to do. Anyone who purchased tickets for 2020 may retain them for 2022 or, if you require a refund this can be arranged.
If the situation changes later in the year, then there are various options open to us but it is hoped that the 2020 line-up will perform at Bledington in 2022. In the meantime, we are exploring avenues for grants as all our fundraising at Chastleton was impossible last year and may not happen this year either.
Thank you to all our supporters new and old.
Festival tickets make wonderful gifts for music lovers.
Music in Education
Each year we endeavour to get the local children enthusiastic about the music and the performers through our growing educational programme and we are very fortunate to have artists willing to get involved and perform special ‘mini’ concerts for pupils of local Primary Schools.
The involvement with the local school began in June 2005 when Catrin Finch visited with her harp. The next year Chloe Hanslip visited as did the Firsova Piano Trio.
We are extremely grateful that many of the musicians also give of their time to perform a concert especially for the local school children; this is always a much anticipated event and is part of our ongoing educational programme to expose children to various instruments and music. More info...
Festival Personnel

Rodney Beacham
FESTIVAL ORGANISER
The festival organiser has a wide range of duties including liaison with and booking of a variety of performers for each year’s Festival.

Catrin Finch
VICE PRESIDENT
Catrin began learning the harp at the age of five she has been delighting audiences worldwide since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music and Drama in 2002 during this time, Catrin was appointed Royal Harpist to HRH the Prince of Wales.

Thomas Trotter
PRESIDENT OF BMF
Appointed Birmingham City organist in 1983 in succession to Sir George Thalben-Ball. He is also Organist at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey, and Visiting Professor of Organ at the Royal College of Music, London.
A Brief History
The Festival has grown since it was established in 2000 when Thomas Trotter, the current President, gave a recital at Bledington; the popularity of that occasion gave rise to this successful three day Music Festival.
Over the years the festival has welcomed many performers. Each concert is unique and outstanding, with world class artists – we are very grateful to have their support for our festival!
We have compiled a list of performers and musicians who have featured at previous festivals please click here to view the list ...
The Concerts take place at:
St Leonard's Church
Church Street
Bledington
Gloucestershire
OX7 6XD
Tel 01608 658669
Email Us
Our Sincere Thanks To All Of Our Supporters this Year